Laryngospasm… Bless You
Dargo was being a little bit bossy yesterday evening as we strolled along the neighborhood streets. I was a little irritable myself; but generally speaking nothing in the walk was outside the ordinary. Nothing, that is, until Dargo began making heaving sounds, and became demonstrably incapable of drawing in enough air.
I was in great distress. I hadn’t a clue what to do. Did I pull too hard on the collar? Is his larynx collapsing? Never mind all that, what do I do to help?
Fortunately for me, Dargo’s episode lasted about four or five seconds during which time I stroked his back and tried to whisper reassuringly (ha!)
And then, as suddenly as it began, it stopped. Dargo looked up at me, a little unsure of himself, but breathing fine and looking handsome as ever. I assumed I had witnessed my dog’s first ever asthma attack. I was wrong.
When I reviewed the respiratory ailments listed in my Home Veternary Handbook, I discovered a condition called Laryngospasm.
Laryngospasm, also known as reverse sneezing, is manifested by the dog laboring to effectively inhale - Dargo’s exact symptoms. Reverse sneezing is generally considered to be an uncommon condition in dogs, but it is not unusual to see it in corgis and beagles. My theory is that it’s because they’re both inveterate sniffing breeds.
So what’s to be done when it happens? Sure, it was very sweet of me to stroke Dargo’s back, but according to the vet manual, I would have been more help if I’d massaged his pharynx, the area in the front of his neck, just below the jaw. Apparently that’s one of the ways to help end an attack. Another suggestion is to place one’s hand over the dog’s nostrils for “an instant”.
Great. I can see it now. My dog can’t breathe and there I am stopping the minimal airflow through the nostrils. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. However, it’s propbably what I will try. After all, it is a much easier proposition to pop my hand in front of his nose for less than a second, than it is to try to find the pharynx of my alarmed, underoxygenated and wiggly corgi, and attempt to massage it.
Tags: beagle, breathing difficulty, breathing problems, corgi, corgis, dog, dog asthma, dogs, laryngospasm, respiratory distress, reverse sneeze, reverse sneezing